Hazardous Goods Cover: Meaning, Example and How It Works in India

What does Hazardous Goods Cover mean?

Hazardous Goods Cover, also called IMT-22 Hazardous Goods endorsement, is added to commercial vehicle policies that transport classified hazardous goods like petroleum, chemicals, explosives or LPG. It increases Third-Party liability cover for incidents involving the hazardous cargo.

For most Indian car owners, knowing Hazardous Goods Cover matters at the moment of buying a policy or filing a claim. The term shows up on the policy schedule, on the claim form and on the renewal proposal, often in fine print that first-time buyers do not notice until something goes wrong.

HiZuno publishes this glossary so that customers and small-business owners can decode the language of motor insurance in plain English. As of 2026, every entry reflects current IRDAI and MoRTH rules and the prevailing practice across providers in India.

How Hazardous Goods Cover applies in India

Under Indian Motor Tariff and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, vehicles carrying hazardous goods must carry this endorsement and the driver must hold a hazardous-goods endorsement on the driving licence. Premium loading is typically 5% to 15% on the OD component.

A real-world example

A Kolkata-based oil tanker carrying petroleum products on a national highway must carry IMT-22 endorsement on the policy. The driver must hold a hazardous-goods endorsement on the Transport licence.

Common misconceptions

Why Hazardous Goods Cover matters for the consumer

Hazardous goods incidents can cause large third-party damages. Missing endorsement at the time of incident is a top claim-rejection ground in commercial motor.

How to handle Hazardous Goods Cover in practice

A simple, repeatable approach helps you stay in control whenever Hazardous Goods Cover shows up in your policy paperwork or claim conversation.

• Confirm the basics: verify that Hazardous Goods Cover is reflected correctly on the policy schedule before you pay premium.
• Cross-check with IRDAI norms: the regulator publishes the framework that governs Hazardous Goods Cover, so compare what your provider has filed.
• Read the policy wording: the binding contract spells out limits, exclusions and conditions in detail beyond the marketing summary.
• Document everything: keep digital copies of the policy, RC, driving licence and KYC, since most disputes turn on documentation.
• Ask before you assume: a 60-second call to the provider clarifies whether Hazardous Goods Cover applies to your specific situation.

Related glossary terms

Frequently asked questions about Hazardous Goods Cover